The long-term effects of chemical weapons such as Agent Orange mean that the impact of war lasts well beyond a ceasefire
2019 has been a particularly testing year for Venezuela as President Nicolas Maduro’s government has fought off two coup attempts and is now subject to an extensive US-imposed economic blockade of the type employed against Cuba since the early 1960s.
In pursuit of its strategy of “regime change” against the elected Venezuelan government, the US under Trump backed an attempted coup in January this year.
Juan Guaido, from the extreme right-wing party “Popular Will” declared himself president but his call for Maduro to be toppled by a popular uprising came to nothing. A second coup attempt in April by Guaido similarly failed, with the armed forces staying loyal and “Chavistas” mobilising on the streets.
The global left must be unwavering in it is support for Venezuela as Washington increases its aggression, and clear-eyed about the West’s cynical motives for targeting it, says CLAUDIA WEBBE



